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There is a good mix of men and women, although the latter do outnumber the former slightly. Most NIU students hail from middle class households, which means you don't run into a lot of spoiled brats on campus. There is a sizeable gay population, but they aren't as visible as perhaps they could be. Politically, most students are liberal, but there are a growing number of students who are quite proud to be conservative.
Like many Midwestern universities, NIU could do better when it comes to diversity, but it still earns a high grade for how well various ethnicities, orientations, and backgrounds are represented and treated. It never feels like the student population is 70 percent white. Instead, cultural groups like the Black Student Union do an excellent job of making themselves visible, and resources like the Center for Latinos and Latin American Studies help by improving retention rates. In fact, students that come from largely white high schools might find themselves in for a big cultural shock as they adjust to their surroundings. But diversity is an essential part of the collegiate experience and a very healthy thing to be exposed to. And make no mistake, you will meet several people who look and act different than you right away on your dorm floor during freshman year.

While there is always a whiff of homophobia in the air from some of the more ignorant members of the NIU community, most students and administrators are very accepting of gay students and go out of their way to make them feel comfortable. The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Resource Center is a positive force and advocate, while PRISM is active in programming events. There have been some complaints that the gay community isn’t as vocal and open as it is on other college campuses, though.

Political Activity

Though the majority of the student body is liberal, the NIU Campus Republicans are far more powerful and organized than their democratic counterparts. They control the Student Association and have even won local government races. Still, peace demonstrations are somewhat frequent and well attended. There seems to be an honest effort by students to educate themselves on the issues.

Economic Status

NIU students are decidedly middle class, with many choosing NIU because of its affordability. This makes them more predisposed to be unassuming and mellow. There are the occasional “rich kids” who think they are better than everybody else, but they tend to be the ones who become ostracized.

Most Common Religions

There are several Christian groups on campus that aren't shy about promoting their beliefs. However, there doesn't seem to be a dominant denomination or faith.

Minority Clubs on Campus

The Black Student Union wields an incredible amount of power on campus, and they produce strong voter turnouts in campus elections. There are also several Asian American and Latino groups that program events on a regular basis. Some fraternities have a cultural bent.

Student Polls

Have you changed your political affiliation since you started college? Based on 16 responses

100%
No

0%
Yes, Democrat to Republican

0%
Yes, Democrat to Independent/Other Party

0%
Yes, Republican to Democrat

0%
Yes, Republican to Independent/Other Party

0%
Yes, Independent/Other Party to Democrat

0%
Yes, Independent/Other Party to Republican

How would you best describe your personal political beliefs? Based on 81 responses

9%
Progressive/very liberal

23%
Liberal

17%
Moderate

16%
Conservative

1%
Very conservative

1%
Libertarian

32%
Not sure

How would you best describe the political beliefs of campus as a whole? Based on 80 responses

5%
Progressive/very liberal

25%
Liberal

15%
Moderate

6%
Conservative

0%
Very conservative

1%
Libertarian

48%
Not sure

How diverse is the student body in the following areas? Based on 83 responses

Totally homogenous

Extremely diverse

Economic status

Ethnic heritage

National origin (international students)

Political affiliation

Religious background

Sexual orientation

How diverse is your personal circle of friends in the following areas? Based on 81 responses

Totally homogenous

Extremely diverse

Economic status

Ethnic heritage

National origin (international students)

Political affiliation

Religious background

Sexual orientation

Have you changed your political views since starting college? Based on 18 responses

56%
No

11%
Yes, I became a lot more liberal.

22%
Yes, I became a little more liberal.

6%
Yes, I became a lot more conservative.

6%
Yes, I became a little more conservative.

What political party do you associate yourself with? Based on 18 responses

11%
Republican

50%
Democratic

17%
Independent

0%
Other party not mentioned

22%
I don't care about politics

Have your religious views changed since you started college? Based on 17 responses

71%
No, my religious views have stayed the same.

0%
Yes. I've become more religious, but I'm still affiliated with the same religion.

6%
Yes. I've become more religious and have changed my religious affiliation.

12%
Yes. I've become less religious, but I'm still affiliated with the same religion.

12%
Yes. I've become less religious and have changed my religious affiliation.

How accepted is the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) community on campus? Based on 19 responses

32%
Very accepted. LGBT students are treated no differently than non-LGBT students.

68%
Accepted. LGBT students are treated fairly, but there are still some people who aren't accepting of them.

0%
Somewhat accepted. LGBT students aren't necessarily out and proud on campus, for fear of intolerance.

0%
Not accepted. LGBT students generally stay quiet.

How important is religion in your life? Based on 17 responses

6%
Very important. I regularly attend religious services and also participate in related clubs/organizations.

41%
Important. I regularly attend religious services.

29%
Somewhat important. I sometimes attend religious services.

24%
Not important. I don't affiliate with any religion.

How accepting is the campus community as a whole toward someone who falls into the minority (ethnic, sexual, or religious)? Based on 81 responses

57%
Very accepting.

37%
Most students are accepting, except for a few rare cases of intolerance.

5%
The campus is split on its acceptance-not all minority groups are as accepted as others.